A RESOLUTION relating to the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority ("Sound Transit"); affirming the Mayor's execution of a Partnering Agreement with Sound Transit to implement light rail extensions between Ballard and West Seattle as approved by regional voters under Sound Transit 3.

A RESOLUTION relating to the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (“Sound Transit”); affirming the Mayor’s execution of a Partnering Agreement with Sound Transit to implement light rail extensions between Ballard and West Seattle as approved by regional voters under Sound Transit 3.

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WHEREAS, the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (“Sound Transit”) was created for the Pierce, King, and Snohomish County region by action of their respective county councils pursuant to RCW 81.112.030; and

WHEREAS, in November 1996, the voters of the three-county Sound Transit district approved Sound Move, a ten-year regional transit system plan for high capacity transit in the Central Puget Sound Region and, again, in 2008, approved Sound Transit 2 (“ST2”), a 15-year regional transit system plan; and

WHEREAS, since 1998, with Sound Move and ST2 funding, Sound Transit and The City of Seattle have partnered through an interlocal agreement, originally codified in Ordinance 118927 and subsequently supplemented and amended, to deliver light rail projects through the Central Link, University Link, Northgate Link, East Link, and Lynnwood Link programs; and

WHEREAS, in November 2016, the voters of the three-county Sound Transit district approved Sound Transit 3 (“ST3”), a 25-year high-capacity system expansion plan, which includes expansion of Link Light Rail between SODO, West Seattle, Ballard, and Downtown via a second light rail tunnel; and

WHEREAS, on May 23, 2016, in Resolution 31668, the Council and Mayor resolved upon voter approval to partner with Sound Transit to accelerate delivery of ST3 projects in Seattle; and

WHEREAS, the Sound Transit Board adopted an ST3 System Plan with accelerated delivery of light rail extension projects, including completion of the West Seattle extension by 2030 and Ballard extension by 2035; and

WHEREAS, upon voter approval of the ST3 measure, Sound Transit adopted a System Expansion Implementation Plan that outlines Sound Transit’s approach to delivering the expanded system of projects on time and within budget, as well as needed reforms based on lessons learned from delivering major capital infrastructure under Sound Move and ST2; and

WHEREAS, amongst the strategic initiatives included in the System Expansion Implementation Plan is development of a project partnering agreement with local jurisdictions at the initiation of each major capital project; and

WHEREAS, in accord with the intent of Resolution 31668 and the ST3 System Plan, and the framework provided by the System Expansion Implementation Plan, an interdepartmental team representing the Mayor’s Office, City Council Central Staff, Seattle Department of Transportation, Office of Planning and Community Development, Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, Seattle Public Utilities, and Seattle City Light, in consultation with other departments and offices, has worked with Sound Transit staff to develop the proposed partnering agreement attached to this resolution; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:

Section 1. Execution by the Mayor on behalf of The City of Seattle of a partnering agreement with Sound Transit for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Project, substantially in the form of the agreement attached hereto and labeled as “Attachment A,” is hereby affirmed.

Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2017, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.

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President ____________ of the City Council

The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2017.

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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor

Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.

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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)

Attachments:

Attachment A - Partnering Agreement between the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (“Sound Transit”) and The City of Seattle for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Project